Philmore is an unusual and distinctive given name of English origin. It is derived from the Middle English word 'filmer', which means 'miller'. The name is believed to have been coined by English writer Thomas Love Peacock in his 1817 novel "Nightmare Abbey". In the novel, Philmore is a character who is described as a pedantic and eccentric individual. Despite its unusual origin, Philmore has not gained much popularity as a given name. It is considered quite rare, with very few people bearing this name today.
The name Philmore has a unique history when it comes to its usage as a baby name in the United States. Over the course of several decades, from 1912 to 1979, there were a total of 350 babies named Philmore across the country.
Looking at the year-by-year statistics, we can observe some interesting patterns. The name's popularity peaked during the early 1920s, with a high of 16 births in 1920 and consistently around 10-15 births per year until 1925. This period seems to have been the "golden age" for the name Philmore.
After this peak, there was a steady decline in its usage throughout the 1930s and 1940s, with fewer than 10 babies named Philmore each year. The name even dipped below five births per year in some years, such as 1947 (5 births) and 1968 (6 births).
However, it's fascinating to note that the name didn't completely disappear after its peak popularity. Even in more recent years like 1979, there were still a few babies named Philmore (5 births). This suggests that while Philmore may not have been as commonly chosen as other names during these later periods, it was still being used occasionally.
In conclusion, the name Philmore has had an interesting journey through time in terms of its usage as a baby name in the United States. Its popularity has ebbed and flowed over the years, but its total count of 350 births demonstrates that this name has indeed left its mark on American naming history.